By Godwin Eki – EMTV Sports, Port Moresby
SOUTHERN Region Sports Manager, Ronnie Mea, says 2019 is a busy year for the region, as ten different sporting programs will be delivered in all five provinces. The programs will be rolled out in Port Moresby first, before reaching other parts of the region.
Mr. Mea says they are also busy preparing their coaches, officials, and athletes that have qualified to be in the final squads for this year’s Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa. He indicated that ten different sporting programs for the region have been finalized and are ready to be rolled out in Port Moresby, Daru, Alotau, Kerema, and Popondetta.
“We have planned that the second, third and fourth quarter will be the months that we will deliver. As we understand from the provinces, because of the funding situations, they have the payments available in the month of April. That makes it easier for us to work with them in the provinces,” Mea says.
Some of the programs include coaching clinics, athlete’s development programs, strength and conditioning workshops, athlete preparations for national and international events, and various Southern zone sporting championships.
“We have five programs. That is Women in Sports, Youth Sports, Pikinini Sports, and ability sports. We also have our Oceania Sports Education Program, which is part and parcel of our delivery,” Mea says.
And with the Pacific Games fast approaching, Southern Region will have a big representation at the Games, as many of the athletes have joined national train on squads for boxing, rugby union, and disability sports.
